USAID: Small grants for priority sectors

USAID launches its Small Grants and Ambassador’s Fund Programme.

LAHORE: The USAID launched its Small Grants and Ambassador’s Fund Programme (SGAFP) on Thursday.

An introductory seminar for the new programme was held at the Pearl Continental Hotel. The initiative will cover three programmes: the Civil Society Grants programme, the Gender Equity Programme and the Grant Programme for Community-Based Organisations. Beth Paige, USAID director of the Lahore Field Office;  Shakeel Kakakhel, chief of party; Charles Cutshall, the USAID Democracy and Governance adviser; and Seema Kamal, the Aurat Foundation director, spoke at the seminar.

The programmes will focus on the health, education, governance, agriculture and energy sectors and on economic growth, social assistance (rehabilitation of floods and other disaster affected areas) and gender equity. It is the first time that the USAID has launched a programme which will directly deal with the organisations working at the grassroots level. These organisations can get up to a $250,000 grant for a single project.

Charles Cutshall who designed the grant programme said, “We are selecting experienced people, who can help us achieve our goals. SGAFP is my child and I don’t want to spoil it.” The USAID has selected the Aurat Foundation for working on gender equity and for socio-economic issues its working with the NRSP.

Shakeel Kakakhel said, “Previously majority of the funds were spent on the security of foreigners heading the projects. Now with civil society members directly involved, the projects will be more effective.”

A large number of civil society members from rural Punjab participated in the seminar. For their convenience, USAID has made forms in Urdu. $135 million has been allocated under the 5-year programme.

According to Charles Cutshall, the office of Inspector General will be involved in accountability and a telephone line service “hotline” will give citizens direct access to USAID to record their complaints on the misuse of the funds.

There are three main objects of this programme: strengthen the voice of citizens, organisational development and improved accountability. Expressing her reservations, Shaista Khalid from the Community Support Concern said, “Handling regional organisations and accountability is not easy. I think the hotline will create problems as jealous rivals or prank callers will pester the workers.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 10^th, 2010.